title: Correlates of depressive symptoms among at-risk youth presenting to the emergency department.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The study's objective was to identify correlates of depressive symptoms among at-risk youth in an urban emergency department (ED).
  
  
  METHODS
  A systematic sample of adolescents (ages 14-18) in the ED were recruited as part of a larger study. Participants reporting past-year alcohol use and peer aggression self-administered a survey assessing: demographics, depressive symptoms and risk/protective factors. Logistic regression identified factors associated with depressive symptoms.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among 624 adolescents (88% response rate) meeting eligibility criteria, 22.8% (n=142) screened positive for depressive symptoms. In logistic regression, depressive symptoms were positively associated with female gender [odds ratio (OR): 2.84, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.78-4.51], poor academic performance (OR: 1.57, 95% CI: 1.01-2.44), binge drinking (OR: 1.88, 95% CI: 1.21-2.91), community violence exposure (OR: 2.25, 95% CI: 1.59-3.18) and dating violence (OR: 2.14, 95% CI: 1.36-3.38) and were negatively associated with same-sex mentorship (OR: 0.52, 95% CI: 0.29-0.91) and older age (OR: 0.55, 95% CI 0.34-0.89). Including gender interaction terms did not significantly change findings.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Screening and intervention approaches for youth in the urban ED should address the co-occurrence of depressive symptoms with peer and dating violence, alcohol and nonmarijuana illicit drug use.
authors.affiliation: Injury Prevention Center, Department of Emergency Medicine, Alpert Medical School, Brown University, 55 Claverick St, Providence, RI 02903. Electronic address: mranney@lifespan.org.
authors.forename: Megan L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Ranney
authors.forename: Maureen
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Walton
authors.forename: Lauren
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Whiteside
authors.forename: Quyen
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Epstein-Ngo
authors.forename: Rikki
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Patton
authors.forename: Stephen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chermack
authors.forename: Fred
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Blow
authors.forename: Rebecca M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Cunningham
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D003863:Depression / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D014754:Violence / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
keywords: Adolescent; Dating violence; Depression; Substance use; Violence